Agenda and minutes

To approve the record of the meeting held on 21 January 2016.

The record of the meeting held on 21 January 2016 was agreed and signed by the Worshipful The Mayor of Medway as a correct record.  

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Mackness and Wildey.  

Disclosable pecuniary interests

Councillor Griffiths declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in any item on the agenda but specifically agenda items 7 (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2016/2017) and 8 (Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021) because he is a Non-Executive Director of Medway Community Healthcare (MCH). He stated that he would leave the meeting should there be any specific discussion on MCH.

Councillor Joy declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in any item on the agenda because his employer has dealings with the Council although he did not receive any remuneration from this.

Other interests

The Worshipful the Mayor of Medway stated that he had been advised by the Monitoring Officer that a personal and potentially financial interest regarding pay for some officers should be recorded in the minutes on behalf of any officers present affected by the proposals.

Councillor Johnson declared an interest in agenda item 7 (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2016/2017) with particular reference to fees and charges because he rents an allotment. He stated that he would leave the meeting should there be any specific discussion on allotments.

Councillor Saroy declared an interest in agenda item 7 (Capital and Revenue Budgets) with particular reference to the pay award because she has family members who work for the Council. She stated that she would leave the meeting should there be any specific discussion on the pay award.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway reminded Members that that tickets were available from his office for the following forthcoming Mayoral events to raise funds for his supported Charities:

·         Deputy Mayor’s Quiz – 4 March 2016

·         Mayor’s Dinner Dance at the Corn Exchange – 2 April 2016

·         Genesis 16 Concert at Rainham Church – 26 April 2016.

The Mayor proposed to suspend Council Rule 11.1.1 in respect of time limits on speeches in relation to agenda item 7 only (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2016/2017) to allow oneMember from each Group to speak for an unlimited time. The normal time limits would then apply. This was agreed.

The Mayor announced the recent birth of Tracey Crouch MP’s son. He stated that he would send, on behalf of Members, a letter of congratulations to her.

The Mayor reminded Members to ensure that written copies of any amendments were provided to the Head of Democratic Services and that copies were brought up to the top table first.

There were none.  

This report presents the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2016/2017 financial year for approval. The Treasury Management Strategy incorporates within it the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2016/2017 financial year, incorporating the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

The report had been considered by the Audit Committee on 12 January 2016 and Cabinet on 9 February 2016, as detailed in paragraphs 15 and 16 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposed Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendations in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Audit Committee and Cabinet.

b)    The Council approved the proposed changes in the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, to take effect from the 2015/16 financial year onwards.

c)    The Council approved the Treasury Management Strategy as set out in the report and Appendices 1-6 to the report.

This report sets out Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2016/17. In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and council tax for 2016/17.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the capital and revenue budget proposals for 2016/2017.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 24 November 2015, which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan. In accordance with the budget and policy framework rules within the Constitution the Overview and Scrutiny Committees had then considered the Cabinet’s proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft budget on 9 February 2016.

Following the final settlement, the Council’s New Homes Bonus had increased by £23,000.

An addendum report was tabled at the meeting which provided details of the correct precept (£28.07) for Cooling Parish Council and the outcome of a trades union ballot on the pay award proposals.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix 10 to the report, summarised the results of the Diversity Impact Assessments which had been completed for each of the services affected by the proposed budget changes.

During debate, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, stated that once the new Rochester Riverside multi-storey car park was opened (scheduled for April 2016), the Corporation Street car park would no longer be a long-stay car park. He also stated that car parking charges at the Council’s Country Parks would not be taken forward.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations in the report with the exceptions of recommendations 27.4 and 27.7 which were revised as follows:

Revision to recommendation 27.4

·         Remove £40,000 income target from the budget, and replace with £8,000 from New Homes Bonus income and a further £32,000 income generation target from parking services.

·         £15,000 – Thames Estuary Campaign (funded by the New Homes Bonus)

·         £16,000 – Queen’s 90^th birthday beacons

·         £50,000 – Dutch Raid

·         £49,000 – Dickens Country

·         £140,000 – HMS Kent Freedom

·         £55,000 – Inward Investment

Total from reserves - £310,000

Revision to recommendation 27.7

Note the parish council precept requirements of £382,692 as detailed at revised Appendix 7 of the addendum report.

In accordance with rule 12.5 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the proposal was taken.

For – Councillors Avey, Bhutia, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Franklin, Griffin, Gulvin, Hall, Hicks, Howard, Iles, Jarrett, The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway, Councillor Kemp, O’Brien, Opara, Potter, Purdy, Royle, Saroy, Tolhurst, Tranter, Turpin, Wicks and Williams (33)

Against – Councillors Bowler, Brown-Reckless, Cooper, Craven, Freshwater, Gilry, Godwin, Griffiths, Johnson, Khan, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Pendergast, Price, Shaw and Stamp (18)

Abstain – Councillor Joy (1)

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed the recommendations of the Employment Matters Committee on 3 February 2016 regarding the proposals for a pay award as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the proposed capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

c)    The Council approved the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 787.

This report seeks approval to the Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021 as a policy framework document.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021. The new Plan would act as the primary framework for setting the direction and vision of the Council over the medium term and it was proposed that the Plan would comprise three key priorities:

·                    Medway: A Place to be Proud Of

·                    Maximise Regeneration and Economic Growth

·                    Supporting Medway’s People to Realise Their Potential.

It was also proposed that the following key ways of working be adopted as part of the Council Plan:

·         Giving value for money

·         Digital services so good that everyone who can use them prefer to do so

·         Working in partnership where this benefits our residents.

The draft Plan had been considered by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2016 and Cabinet on 9 February, as detailed in paragraphs 5 and 7 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed the Council Plan 2016/17 – 2020/21 and its component parts including:

·           Priorities and outcomes (shown in the diagram  in paragraph 3.3 of the report and within appendix 1 to the report)

·           Programmes (appendix 1 to the report)

·           Indicators and associated year 1 targets (appendix 2 to the report)

·           Ways of working to underpin how the council operates (paragraph 4 of the report).

b)    The Council agreed to grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, to make any necessary changes to align the plan’s indicator set to the agreed budget, including to finalise the few remaining provisional targets by exception.

This report seeks approval to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for implementation from 1 April 2016.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy following consideration by the Licensing and Safety Committee on 27 January 2016.

The report set out the background to the development of the draft Policy noting that a modern, effective policy would ensure that the trade and the public would have a document that fully explained the licensing process and, additionally, the proposed policy would ensure the continuation of the high standards currently offered by the trade.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposed policy, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

The Chairman of the Licensing and Safety Committee, Councillor Mrs Diane Chambers, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation, Councillor Chitty, proposed the recommendation in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as set out in Appendix A to the report for implementation from 1 April 2016.

This report seeks approval to the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2016/2017 in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for the financialyear 2016/2017in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. It was noted that the pay policy statement must beapproved by a resolution of Full Council before it comes into force and had to be prepared and approved before 31 March 2016 for the following financial year.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the PPS, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, Councillor Wicks, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendation in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed the Pay Policy Statement 2016/2017 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

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